Profile and protective role of 61kDa and 47kDa antigens of Edwardsiella tarda in rohu (Labeo rohita)

Edwardsiella tarda is a versatile pathogen that could survive in different environmental conditions and infect economically important fish species. The whole cell antigenic proteins were extracted from E. tarda and assessed via Western blot using anti E. trada rohu and anti E. trada rabbit serum. Two strong reacted proteins with antibodies were recovered viz 61 kDa and 47 kDa from SDS PAGE gels to evaluate their vaccine potential in rohu fish. Fish were vaccinated 10 µg of antigenic proteins intraperitoneally as immunogens with Freund’s incomplete adjuvant (FIA). The boosters were given on the 10th day of immunization with PBS. The blood was drawn from vena caudalis at every 7th day for hematological and immunological studies. Fish were challenged on 35th day with 1× 106 cfu E. tarda field isolate ET-1.